London 2012 Paralympic Games - Two medals for Britain

On the final day of the London 2012 Paralympic Sailing Regatta at Weymouth and Portland today, Thursday 6 September, Britain has won two medals.

Helena Lucas – the only woman in her class - has won 2.4 Metre one-person keelboat gold and Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell have won SKUD two-person keelboat bronze.

Lucas was sat in gold medal position, with a nine-point cushion over second-placed Heiko Kroger (GER), and guaranteed at least a silver medal overnight while Rickham and Birrell were also guaranteed at least bronze.

A lack of breeze in Portland Harbour today meant no sailing was possible ensuring that the overnight positions remained and the medals went to Great Britain.

Britain hasn’t won a full Paralympic sailing medal since the sport joined the full Paralympic Games programme at Sydney 2000. These medal comes in addition to the gold medal won by the British Sonar team of Andy Cassell, Kevin Curtis and Tony Downs when the first Paralympic sailing event took place as a demonstration event at Atlanta 1996.

The Olympic Sailing Regatta runs from Sunday 29 July – Saturday 11 August. Full report and reaction to follow.